BANK OF AMERICA MERRILL LYNCH AND EARTHPORT SIGN STRATEGIC AGREEMENT

Jan 3, 2014

Reinforces the bank’s commitment to support the evolving payments needs of clients across the globe

Bank of America Merrill Lynch, a leader in global payments and transaction services, and Earthport (AIM:EPO), the cross-border payments service provider and existing key supplier for the bank, today announced a multi-year agreement to significantly expand Bank of America Merrill Lynch’s low value clearing capabilities globally, and to advance the efficiency of its high volume, low value payments. The agreement provides the bank’s global corporate client base with a greater number of solutions in more countries to help them process payments around the world.

Earthport CEO Hank Uberoi

Under the agreement, Bank of America Merrill Lynch’s corporate clients will have increased access to the cross-border payments capabilities needed to enhance their global competitiveness. The bank’s clients will benefit from an expanded set of countries as well as faster, more transparent and cost efficient payments that are deeply integrated with Bank of America Merrill Lynch’s robust FX solutions.

The strategic agreement continues Bank of America Merrill Lynch’s expansion of international capabilities, which is in keeping with the firm’s commitment to serve its clients wherever in the world they do business, and to ultimately support their long term goals.
“Our clients are asking us to help them quickly enter new markets across the globe. In many cases, a low-value international payment vehicle perfectly suits their needs. The situation reflects the increasing trend for clients to ask for financial products and services that support new models, rather than services designed for a different purpose, in a different era.” said Ather Williams III, Head of Global Payments for Bank of America Merrill Lynch. “We are pleased that the agreement with Earthport will deepen our ability to provide clients with industry leading solutions.”

“Having signed an initial agreement with Bank of America Merrill Lynch in December 2012 for a specific payments service in North America, I am delighted today to announce the progression of this relationship, and the signing of a worldwide contract, said Hank Uberoi, Chief Executive Officer of Earthport. “The new contract with Bank of America Merrill Lynch marks a commitment to a long term strategic relationship, and represents a large and international strategic opportunity across several of Bank of America Merrill Lynch’s payments services. We look forward to continuing to work together to provide leading payment products to its corporate customers.”

With local clearing capabilities in more than 60 countries and an efficient and transparent cross-border payments service, Earthport is uniquely positioned to support Bank of America Merrill Lynch in advancing its share of the global low value payments market.

About Bank of America
Bank of America is one of the world’s largest financial institutions, serving individual consumers, small- and middle-market businesses and large corporations with a full range of banking, investing, asset management and other financial and risk management products and services. We serve approximately 51 million consumer and small business relationships with approximately 5,200 retail banking offices and approximately 16,200 ATMs and award-winning online banking with 30 million active users and more than 14 million mobile users. Bank of America is among the world’s leading wealth management companies and is a global leader in corporate and investment banking and trading across a broad range of asset classes, serving corporations, governments, institutions and individuals around the world. Bank of America offers industry-leading support to approximately 3 million small business owners through a suite of innovative, easy-to-use online products and services. The company serves clients through operations in more than 40 countries. Bank of America Corporation stock (NYSE: BAC) is listed on the New York Stock Exchange.

Bank of America Merrill Lynch is the marketing name for the global banking and global markets businesses of Bank of America Corporation. Lending, derivatives, and other commercial banking activities are performed globally by banking affiliates of Bank of America Corporation, including Bank of America, N.A., member FDIC. Securities, strategic advisory, and other investment banking activities are performed globally by investment banking affiliates of Bank of America Corporation (“Investment Banking Affiliates”), including, in the United States, Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated and Merrill Lynch Professional Clearing Corp., all of which are registered broker-dealers and members of FINRA and SIPC, and, in other jurisdictions, by locally registered entities. Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated and Merrill Lynch Professional Clearing Corp. are registered as futures commission merchants with the CFTC and are members of the NFA. Investment products offered by Investment Banking Affiliates: Are Not FDIC Insured * May Lose Value * Are Not Bank Guaranteed.

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Through its innovative payments framework, specifically designed for high volumes of low value cross-border payments, Earthport provides a cost-effective and transparent service for secure international payments. Earthport’s clients include banks, foreign exchange businesses, money transfer organisations, payment aggregators and e-commerce businesses. Through Earthport’s well established payments infrastructure, clients can clear and settle payments directly to banked beneficiaries in over 60 countries.

The company is headquartered in London and is listed on the Alternative Investment Market (AIM) on the London Stock Exchange. It operates globally with additional regional offices in Dubai and New York. Earthport plc is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority under the Payment Service Regulations 2009 for the provision of payment services. To learn more, please visit www.earthport.com and follow us via RSS or on social channels, Twitter@Earthport, LinkedIn, Youtube and Slideshare.